THE DECCA MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCES NEW EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT WITH LUCIANO PAVAROTTI

THE DECCA MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCES NEW EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT WITH LUCIANO PAVAROTTI

THE DECCA MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCES NEW EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT WITH LUCIANO PAVAROTTI

LONDON, 24 JULY 2002 — The Decca Music Group, part of the Universal Music Group, has announced that it has re-signed its exclusive contract with the world’s most famous tenor, Luciano Pavarotti.

Luciano Pavarotti is currently undertaking a worldwide concert tour and is recording an album of popular songs commissioned by Decca, due for release in 2003. Other recording and release plans, including a full-length television documentary of his life and career, will be announced shortly.

2001 marked Luciano Pavarotti’s fortieth anniversary as an opera singer, and, throughout an extraordinary career, the tenor’s impact on the world of music has been enormous: broadening the horizons of classical music and opera and bringing countless numbers of new fans to the art of the tenor voice, Pavarotti’s thrilling voice and unique personality have touched millions of people throughout the world. An exclusive Decca artist since the early years of his career, Luciano Pavarotti is the most popular artist in the history of the classical recording industry and has sold in excess of 65 million Decca albums and videos. During that period, he has made over 60 original recordings and Decca has released many more best-selling compilation discs of popular arias and songs.

Luciano Pavarotti has been awarded with many international accolades, most recent of which include a Kennedy Center Honour, awarded at a White House ceremony by the President of the United States, for his contributions to culture; the IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry) Special Achievement Award, in recognition of his contribution to the recording industry; and the coveted Nansen award for his work with the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees).

Said Luciano Pavarotti: “Decca has been my recording company from the beginning – it has been a big part of my singing career and it has always been a wonderful partnership. We have made many important and beautiful recordings together and I am proud that I will continue to record with this great label.”

Doug Morris, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Universal Music Group, stated, “As one of the most popular artists in the history of classical music, Luciano Pavarotti is truly an international treasure. All of us at Universal Music Group are delighted that he has chosen to stay with our company, and we look forward to many more years of successful collaboration.”

Jorgen Larsen, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Universal Music International, commented: “It is very rewarding that an artist with a reputation of such historical importance as Luciano has decided to entrust us with his ongoing recording career. Everyone at Universal Music is proud that we’re going to be continuing this singular and mutually rewarding relationship.”

Added Chris Roberts, President, Universal Classics & Jazz: “Beyond being perhaps the world’s most recognised person, Luciano Pavarotti’s contribution to music is staggering. Not since Caruso has a classical artist reached so many people and he has been the great ambassador of this cause for over 40 years. Decca and Universal have been his home for his entire recording career and we thank him for his loyalty and congratulate him on this and all his many accomplishments.”

Costa Pilavachi, President, Decca Music Group, said: “Luciano always looks ahead and all of us at Decca are proud that this fabulous partnership continues well into the future. His recorded legacy is incomparable and unrivalled and we look forward to adding to this extraordinary heritage both on audio as well as video in the coming years.”

Universal Music International

Universal Music Group is the world’s leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 63 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, one of the industry’s largest global music publishing operations.

Universal Music Group consists of record labels Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, MCA Nashville, MCA Records, Mercury Records, Motown Records, Philips, Polydor, Universal Records, and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry, which is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and UM3 (outside the U.S.).

Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.